Little Yosemite via Canyon View Trail is a 3 mile out and back trail located near Sunol, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and nature trips. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Beautiful hike when hills are green in the spring. Canyon View Tr has some narrow parts with drop offs. I would advise poles and good boots. Can be crowded on weekends.
“Little Yosemite” might be an oversell but it’s very pretty and something different for the Bay Area. The first half of this hike is single track, starts with a short steep uphill, then gradual down the whole way, coming back on a fire road. One section of the single track is along the side of a hill with a steep drop to a valley, so know that if you aren’t great with heights. Not super scary but a little nervous, for me anyway. Parking was easy at 8 at on a sunny Saturday but lots more cars when I got back around 10. Still plenty of overflow parking available so just keep driving and look for overflow parking signs.
This map had the trail starting in the second parking lot from the park entrance, but the actual trailhead is quite a way past. Wide fire trail to Little Yosemite, then easy hike on Canyon View back to the car. Not a difficult hike at all.
Very nice loop. Busy on a weekend. Winter grass is starting to show, trails are still dry today.
A heads up if you use All Trails app, download the map ahead of time. I have Verizon and had zero service.
Really pretty on the way up, nice incline the first mile. Not a lot of shade but we lucked out with clouds. Little Yosemite is gorgeous. Make sure to take the trail alongside the creek instead of Camp Ohlone Rd directly so it is cooler/prettier. Once you cross the bridge, the footpath along the road for the last mile or so is dusty and hot, not super fun (hence the 4 stars). Bring sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, and good hiking shoes. Will return!
Beautiful California hills with perfect oak trees everywhere. Lots of birds. Not too exposed at the beginning but it is towards the end. Although I cut it short because it was hotter than expected. There is a section on Geary Road that isn’t fun with cars kicking up lots of dust. Some of the trails are rough since the cattle travel along them. Be sure to watch for your junctions and turns. Many cow trails can make it confusing. I missed a turn but, fortunately, there was a connecting fire road to get me on track so I didn’t need to backtrack uphill.
I did this trail with my 6 year old nephew. It is a great trail and easy enough to knock out in about 2 hours. I could’ve gone faster but didn’t want to tire out my nephew. Either way, he did great and I love this trail! Need to come to this park in the fall/spring as everything was dried out already. It’s a beautiful trail and basically only ran into people at the little Yosemite/parking lot area. We ran into a carcass of deer, which I assume must have been killed by a coyote or mountain lion. I did hear a coyote last time I came at 7am so it must been coyotes. We did 5 miles though I forgot to turn off my recording until I got home so my recorder says something like 20-something miles.
havnt hike in such a long time. the first peak is the only semi hard one. make sure to bring icey cold water. we started at 840 am and it is already sunny and hot. near the creek. dip our feets to cool down.
Really enjoyed this trail a lot I loved the views from the beginning to end. I wouldn’t say this was moderate I would put this under Hard. Still worth a hike
Very easy hike. Only one mile in and you reach the waterfall. Saw a lot of ppl bringing their dogs but I’m assuming they went off to another trail since getting to the waterfall is not very easy for you to take your dog but if you have kids, your kiddos would love this location! Small and short but really cute
The fire road trail in the beginning was meh, but we got to splash a bit in the water at Little Yosemite. We then took the Canyon Trail Ciew on the way back and it had some stunning views (and a lot more shade).